Imaging apparatus

ABSTRACT

An imaging apparatus includes a register, a communication unit, a control unit and a display unit. The communication unit receives a write request from an external storage device, the write request being used to write battery capacity information and storage capacity information in the register. The control unit (a) obtains the battery capacity information and the storage capacity information from the register if the start of imaging is detected, (b) detects a condition of a battery of the external storage device using the battery capacity information obtained from the register, and (c) detects a condition of the storage capacity of the external storage device using the storage capacity information obtained from the register. The display unit displays the condition of the battery detected by the control unit, and displays the condition of the storage capacity detected by the control unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus for storingphoto-taken image in an external storing device.

2. Related Background Art

A digital video camera normally records a photo-taken image on a storingmedium such as a cassette tape, a memory card or the like and can alsostore the photo-taken image in an external storing device connected toan IEEE 1394 interface.

However, conventional digital video cameras did not have a function foracquiring information regarding a battery and a storage capacity of anexternal storing device from the external storing device and a functionfor displaying conditions of the battery and the storage capacity of theexternal storing device. Thus, the information regarding the battery andthe storage capacity of the external storing device was displayed on theexternal storing device rather than the digital video camera. With thisarrangement, when it is desired that the conditions of the battery andthe storage capacity of the external storing device be ascertainedduring the imaging or photo-taking, since the user must look up from asubject, there is a problem that proper imaging cannot be performed.

Further, if the ascertainment of the conditions of the battery and thestorage capacity of the external storing device are neglected, there isa problem that the imaging cannot be performed because the battery ofthe external storing device is suddenly exhausted or that the imagingcannot be performed because the storage capacity of the external storingdevice is suddenly used up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can permit the user to recognize conditions of abattery and a storage capacity of an external storing device to preventrecording of a photo-taken image from becoming impossible.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided animaging apparatus comprising transmission means for sending command forinquiring of an external storing device about battery capacityinformation as information regarding a battery of the external storingdevice and for receiving response including the battery capacity, anddisplay means for displaying a condition of the battery of the externalstoring device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan imaging apparatus comprising transmission means for sending commandfor requesting storage capacity information as information regarding astorage capacity of an external storing device and for receivingresponse including the storage capacity information, and display meansfor displaying a condition of the storage capacity of the externalstoring device.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an imaging apparatus comprising transmission means for sendingread request for requesting reading-out of a register storing batterycapacity as information regarding a battery of an external storingdevice to the external storing device and for receiving read responseincluding the battery capacity information, and display means fordisplaying a condition of the battery of the external storing device.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an imaging apparatus comprising transmission means for sendingread request for requesting reading-out of a register storing storagecapacity information as information regarding a storage capacity of anexternal storing device to the external storing device and for receivingread response including the storage capacity information, and displaymeans for displaying a condition of the storage capacity of the externalstoring device.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an imaging apparatus comprising receiving means for receivingwrite request for requesting writing-in of battery capacity informationin a register storing the battery capacity information as informationregarding a battery of an external storing device, and display means fordisplaying a condition of the battery of the external storing device.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an imaging apparatus comprising receiving means for receivingwrite request for requesting writing-in of storage capacity informationin a register storing the storage capacity information as informationregarding a storing capacity of an external storing device, and displaymeans for displaying a condition of the storage capacity of the externalstoring device.

Still other objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill become fully apparent from the following detailed description ofthe preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic construction of a digitalvideo camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for showing a processing procedure of the digitalvideo camera system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for showing a processing procedure of an FCPsystem;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for showing a processing procedure of an RTsystem;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure of a WT system;

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the FCP system;

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the RT system; and

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the WT system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be explained in connection with preferredembodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First of all, a digital video camera system 10 as an image recordingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will beexplained with reference to FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digital video camera system 10 includes adigital video camera (referred to as “DVC” hereinafter) 11 and an AVhard disk device (referred to as “AVHDD” hereinafter) 12. The DVC 11 isan imaging apparatus according to the embodiment and the AVHDD 12 is anexternal storing device according to the embodiment. When the AVHDD 12is connected to the DVC 11, the DVC 11 can record a photo-taken image onthe AVHDD 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, the AVHDD 12 includes a digital interface section(referred to as “DIF section” hereinafter) 121, a register space 122, acontrol unit 123, a hard disk unit 124 and battery 125.

The DIF section 121 is a digital interface conforming to IEEE Std1394-1995 as one of standards regarding a serial bus and standards (IEEEStd 1394a-2000 and the like) associated with such a standard.

The register space 122 is a part of a CSR (control and status register)architecture stipulated in ISO/IEC 13213:1994 and serves to storeinformation regarding the AVHDD 12. Further, the register space 122 hasa command register if the AVHDD 12 supports an FCP system which will bedescribed later and a BSR register if the AVHDD supports an RT systemwhich will be described later.

The control unit 123 includes a microcomputer and a memory. A controlprogram for controlling various functions of the DVC 11 is stored in thememory of the control unit 123. A control program for controlling aprocessing procedure of the AVHDD 12 which will be described withreference to FIGS. 2 to 8 is also stored in the memory of the controlunit 123.

Further, the control unit 123 has a function for managing latest batterycapacity information and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12.The battery capacity information is information regarding the battery ofthe AVHDD 12 and includes information indicating a maximum capacity, aremaining capacity, a maximum usable time and a remaining usable time ofthe battery 125. On the other hand, the storage capacity information isinformation regarding a storage capacity of the AVHDD 12 and includes amaximum storage capacity and a remaining storage capacity of the harddisk unit 124.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the DVC 11 includes a digitalinterface section (referred to as “DIF section” hereinafter) 111, aregister space 112, a control unit 113 and a display unit 114.

The DIF section 111 is a digital interface conforming to IEEE Std1394-1995 as one of standards regarding a serial bus and standards (IEEEStd 1394a-2000 and the like) associated with such a standard.

The register space 112 is a part of a CSR (control and status register)architecture stipulated in ISO/IEC 13213:1994 and serves to storeinformation regarding the DVC 11. Further, the register space 112 has aresponse register if the DVC 11 supports the FCP system which will bedescribed later and a BSW register if the DVC supports a WT system whichwill be described later.

The control unit 113 includes a microcomputer and a memory. A controlprogram for controlling various functions of the DVC 11 is stored in thememory of the control unit 113. A control program for controlling aprocessing procedure of the DVC 11 which will be described withreference to FIGS. 2 to 8 is also stored in the memory of the controlunit 113.

Further, the control unit 113 has a function for acquiring latestbattery capacity information and storage capacity information of theAVHDD 12. Further, the control unit 113 has a function for detectinglatest conditions of the battery and the storage capacity of the AVHDD12 from the battery capacity information and the storage capacityinformation and for displaying such conditions on the display unit 114.The control unit 113 serves to display the conditions of the battery andthe storage capacity of the AVHDD 12 on the same screen simultaneouslyor alternately. When the condition of the battery of the AVHDD 12 isdisplayed, the control unit 113 displays the maximum storage capacity,remaining capacity, maximum usable time and remaining usable time of thebattery of the AVHDD 12 on the same screen simultaneously oralternately. When the storage capacity of the AVHDD 12 is displayed, thecontrol unit 113 displays the maximum storage capacity and the remainingstorage capacity of the storage capacity of the AVHDD 12 on the samescreen simultaneously or alternately.

Next, the FCP system which is one of capacity information acquiringsystems will be explained with reference to FIG. 6.

The FCP system is a system in which inquiry command is transmitted andinquiry response is received by using FCP (function control protocol)stipulated in IEC 61883-1. The inquiry command is command for requestingthe latest battery capacity information and storage capacity informationof the AVHDD 12. On the other hand, the inquiry response is responsecorresponding to the inquiry command and includes the latest batterycapacity information and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12.

-   (1) The control unit 113 generates the inquiry command and supplies    the command to the DIF section 111. Such processing is carried out    if a predetermined time period has elapsed or if bus reset has    occurred or if user manipulation (start of imaging, temporary pause    or the like) is detected.-   (2) The DIF section 111 transmits the inquiry command to the AVHDD    12.-   (3) The DIF section 121 receives the inquiry command from the DVC 11    and writes the command in a command register 61.-   (4) The control unit 123 reads out the inquiry command from the    command register 61 and then generates read response including the    latest battery capacity information and storage capacity information    of the AVHDD 12 and supplies such response to the DIF section 121.-   (5) The DIF section 121 returns the inquiry response to the DVC 11.-   (6) The DIF section 111 receives the inquiry response from the AVHDD    12 and writes such response in a response register 62.-   (7) The control unit 113 reads out the inquiry response from the    response register 61 and then acquires the latest battery capacity    information and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12. Then,    the control unit 113 detects the conditions of the battery and the    storage capacity of the AVHDD 12 from the battery capacity    information and the storage capacity information and displays such    conditions on the display unit 114.

Next, the RT system which is one of the capacity information acquiringsystems will be explained with reference to FIG. 7.

The RT system is a system which reads out the latest battery capacityinformation and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12 from a BSRregister 71 in the register space 122 of the AVHDD 12 by using readtransaction stipulated in IEEE Std 1394-1995.

-   (1) The control unit 123 detects the latest battery capacity    information and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12 and    stores such information in the BSR register 71. Such processing is    carried out if the remaining storage capacity and the remaining    usable time of the battery 125 exceed a predetermined reference    value and if the remaining storage capacity of the hard disk unit    124 exceeds a predetermined reference value.-   (2) The control unit 113 generates read request for requesting    reading-out of the BSR register 71 to the AVHDD 12 and supplies such    request to the DIF section 111. Such processing is carried out if a    predetermined time period has elapsed or if bus reset has occurred    or if the user manipulation (start of imaging, temporary pause or    the like) is detected.-   (3) The DIF section 111 transmits the read request to the AVHDD 12.-   (4) The DIF section 121 receives the read request from the DVC 11    and supplies such read request to the control unit 123.-   (5) The control unit 123 reads out the latest battery capacity    information and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12 from    the BSR register 71.-   (6) The control unit 123 generates read response including the    battery capacity information and the storage capacity information    read out from the BSR register 71 and supplies such read response to    the DIF section 121.-   (7) The DIF section 121 transmits the read response to the DVC 11.-   (8) The DIF section 111 receives the read response from the AVHDD 12    and supplies such read response to the control unit 113.-   (9) The control unit 113 acquires the latest battery capacity    information and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12 from    the read response. Then, the control unit 113 detects the conditions    of the battery and the storage capacity of the AVHDD 12 from the    battery capacity information and the storage capacity information    and displays such information on the display unit 114.

Next, the WT system which is one of the capacity information acquiringsystems will be explained with reference to FIG. 8.

The WT system is a system which writes the latest battery capacityinformation and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12 in a BSWregister 81 in the register space 112 of the DVC 11 by using writetransaction stipulated in the IEEE Std 1394-1995.

-   (1) The control unit 123 generates write request for requesting    writing of the latest battery capacity information and storage    capacity information of the AVHDD 12 in the BSW register 81 and    supplies such write request to the DIF section 121. Such processing    is carried out if the remaining storage capacity and the remaining    usable time of the battery 125 exceed a predetermined reference    value and if the remaining storage capacity of the hard disk unit    124 exceeds a predetermined reference value.-   (2) The DIF section 121 transmits the write request to the DVC 11.-   (3) The DIF section 111 receives the write request from the AVHDD 12    and writes such write request in the BSW register 81. By repeating    the processing operations (1) to (3), the latest battery capacity    information and storage capacity information are always stored in    the BSW register 81.-   (4) The control unit 113 acquires the latest battery capacity    information and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12 from    the BSW register 81. Such processing is carried out if a    predetermined time period has elapsed or if bus reset has occurred    or if the user manipulation (start of imaging, temporary pause or    the like) is detected.-   (5) The control unit 113 detects the conditions of the battery and    the storage capacity of AVHDD 12 from the battery capacity    information and the storage capacity information, and displays such    conditions on the display unit 114.

Now, a processing procedure of the digital video camera system 10 willbe explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

Step S201: The control unit 113 inquires of the AVHDD 12 about thecapacity information acquiring system supported by the AVHDD 12.

Step S202: The control unit 113 judges whether the FCP system is used ornot. If the AVHDD 12 supports the FCP system and the control unit 113selects the FCP system, the flow chart goes to a step S2021.

Step S203: The control unit 113 judges whether the RT system is used ornot. If the AVHDD 12 supports the RT system and the control unit 113selects the RT system, the flow chart goes to a step S2031.

Step S204: The control unit 113 judges whether the WT system is used ornot. If the AVHDD 12 supports the WT system and the control unit 113selects the WT system, the flow chart goes to a step S2041.

Step S2021: The control unit 113 generates the above-mentioned inquirycommand and supplies such command to the DIF section 111. The DIFsection 111 transmits the inquiry command to the AVHDD 12. The DIFsection 121 receives the inquiry command from the DVC 11 and writes suchinquiry command in the command register 61 in the register space 122.The inquiry command written in the command register 61 is supplied tothe control unit 123.

Step S2022: The control unit 123 generates the read response storing thelatest battery capacity information and storage capacity information ofthe AVHDD 12 and supplies such response to the DIF section 121. The DIFsection 121 returns the inquiry response to the DVC 11. The DIF section111 receives the inquiry response from the AVHDD 12 and writes suchinquiry response in the response register 62 in the register space 112.The inquiry response written in the response register 62 is supplied tothe control unit 113.

Step S2023: The control unit 113 acquires the latest battery capacityinformation and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12 from theinquiry response.

Step S2024: The control unit 113 detects the condition of the battery ofthe AVHDD 12 from the latest battery capacity information and displayssuch a condition on the display unit 114. In this case, the control unitdisplays the maximum storage capacity, remaining storage capacity,maximum usable time and remaining usable time of the battery of theAVHDD 12 on the same screen of the display unit 114 simultaneously oralternately. The user can recognize the condition of the battery of theAVHDD 12 by looking at the display unit 114.

Step S2025: The control unit 113 detects the condition of the storagecapacity of the AVHDD 12 from the latest storage capacity informationand displays such a condition on the display unit 114. In this case, thecontrol unit 113 displays the maximum storage capacity and remainingstorage capacity of the storage capacity of the AVHDD 12 on the samescreen of the display unit 114 simultaneously or alternately. The usercan recognize the condition of the storage capacity of the AVHDD 12 bylooking at the display unit 114.

Step S2026: The control unit 113 judges whether AVHDD 12 is stillconnected to the DVC 11 or not. If the AVHDD 12 is disconnected from theDVC 11 physically or logically, the flow chart is ended.

Step S2031: The control unit 113 generates the read request forrequesting the reading-out of the BSR register 71 to the AVHDD 12 andsupplies such read request to the DIF section 111. The DIF section 111transmits the read request to the AVHDD 12. The DIF section 121 receivesthe read request from the DVC 11 and supplies such read request to thecontrol unit 123.

Step S2032: The control unit 123 reads out the latest battery capacityinformation and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12 from theBSR register 71 and generates the read response that stored suchinformation. The DIF section 121 transmits the read response to the DVC11. The DIF section 111 receives the read response from the AVHDD 12 andsupplies such read response to the control unit 113.

Step S2033: The control unit 113 acquires the latest battery capacityinformation and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12 from theread response.

Step S2034: The control unit 113 detects the condition of the battery ofthe AVHDD 12 from the latest battery capacity information and displayssuch a condition on the display unit 114. In this case, the control unit113 displays the maximum storage capacity, remaining storage capacity,maximum usable time and remaining usable time of the battery of theAVHDD 12 on the same screen of the display unit 114 simultaneously oralternately. The user can recognize the condition of the battery of theAVHDD 12 by looking at the display unit 114.

Step S2035: The control unit 113 detects the condition of the storagecapacity of the AVHDD 12 from the latest storage capacity informationand displays such a condition on the display unit 114. In this case, thecontrol unit 113 displays the maximum storage capacity and the remainingstorage capacity of the storage capacity of the AVHDD 12 on the samescreen of the display unit 114 simultaneously or alternately. The usercan recognize the condition of the storage capacity of the AVHDD 12 bylooking at the display unit 114.

Step S2036: The control unit 113 judges whether the AVHDD 12 is stillconnected to the DVC 11 or not. If the AVHDD 12 is disconnected from theDVC 11 physically or logically, the flow chart is ended.

Step S2041: The control unit 113 acquires the latest battery capacityinformation and storage capacity information of the AVHDD 12 from theBSW register 81.

Step S2042: The control unit 113 detects the condition of the battery ofthe AVHDD 12 from the latest battery capacity information and displayssuch a condition on the display unit 114. In this case, the control unit113 displays the maximum storage capacity, remaining storage capacity,maximum usable time and remaining usable time of the battery of theAVHDD 12 on the same screen of the display unit 114 simultaneously oralternately. The user can recognize the condition of the battery of theAVHDD 12 by looking at the display unit 114.

Step S2043: The control unit 113 detects the condition of the storagecapacity of the AVHDD 12 from the latest storage capacity informationand displays such a condition on the display unit 114. In this case, thecontrol unit 113 displays the maximum storage capacity and the remainingstorage capacity of the storage capacity of the AVHDD 12 on the samescreen of the display unit 114 simultaneously or alternately. The usercan recognize the condition of the storage capacity of the AVHDD 12 bylooking at the display unit 114.

Step S2044: The control unit 113 judges whether the AVHDD 12 is stillconnected to the DVC 11 or not. If the AVHDD 12 is disconnected from theDVC 11 physically or logically, the flow chart is ended.

In this way, according to the DVC 11 of the illustrated embodiment, evenwhen the AVHDD 12 supports either of the FCP system, RT system or WTsystem, the latest battery capacity information and storage capacityinformation of the AVHDD 12 can be obtained.

Further, according to the DVC 11 of the illustrated embodiment, sincethe conditions of the battery and the storage capacity of the AVHDD 12can be displayed, the user can recognize the conditions of the batteryand the storage capacity of the AVHDD 12, with the result that therecord of the photo-taken image can be prevented from suddenly becomingimpossible. Further, the conditions of the battery and the storagecapacity of the AVHDD 12 can be ascertained without looking up from thesubject.

The above-described preferred embodiments are merely exemplary of thepresent invention, and are not be construed to limit the scope of thepresent invention.

For example, the present invention is not limited to the AV hard diskdevice, but can also be applied to a removable storage device other thanthe AV hard disk device.

The scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of theappended claims, and is not limited to only the specific descriptions inthis specification. Furthermore, all modifications and changes belongingto equivalents of the claims are considered to fall within the scope ofthe present invention.

1. An imaging apparatus comprising: a register; a communication unitwhich receives a write request from an external storage device via aserial bus, the write request being used to write battery capacityinformation and storage capacity information in said register; a controlunit which (a) obtains the battery capacity information and the storagecapacity information from said register if a bus reset occurs, (b)detects a condition of a battery of the external storage device usingthe battery capacity information obtained from said register, and (c)detects a condition of the storage capacity of the external storagedevice using the storage capacity information obtained from saidregister; and a display unit which (a) displays the condition of thebattery detected by the control unit, and (b) displays the condition ofthe storage capacity detected by the control unit.
 2. An imagingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition of the battery ofthe external storage device includes a remaining capacity of the batteryof the external storage device or a remaining usable time of the batteryof the external storage device.
 3. An imaging apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said communication unit conforms to IEEE Std 1394-1995.4. An imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition ofthe storage capacity of the external storage device includes a remainingstorage capacity of the external storage device.
 5. An imaging apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the condition of the battery of theexternal storage device includes a remaining capacity of the battery ofthe external storage device or a remaining usable time of the battery ofthe external storage device, and wherein the condition of the storagecapacity of the external storage device includes a remaining storagecapacity of the external storage device.
 6. An imaging apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus includes a camera.